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IbiTors Thos. C. Worthington, 3rd. .

Louis Y. Lane ___________________ Louds B. Shilling___________________ ______ Humber 1. ' September, 1§2§.

GBESTIESS Wizards! necromancers! Magicians I

we greet you all.

To those climbing the Pyramid, to the Disciples and to our Brother' in osiris we offer greetings.

We are here in your service and for the purpose of spreading the pews and the activities of the Society of osiris and Magic among you.

If we fail, at least it will not bo because we have not tried.

If we succeed, our reward will lie in the fact that we have interested and helped you.

It has boon the opinion of our members for a long time past that some method should be adopted to spread tho recorss of our activities among those affiliated with us horo and in other cities, but who are unable to attend our meetings, honco this pamphlet.

This papor is not to be confusod with magazines which are sold to tho magical fraternity, but is only a brief series of statements regard­ ing the doings of Tho Socioty of osiris, Magicians, Inc., of Baltimore.

It will bo published from time to time in loose-leaf form, and for the convenience of those who wish to keep these shoots wo aro punching them so they may all be kept in tho binder accompanying this issue.

Wo will try to givo you not only nows of our works but will with oach issue include an article or more pertaining to magic with descriptions of offocts and explanations whore possible.

To further theoo plans wo must have your corporation, and since most of us havo ideas and tricks of our own we ask that you send in sue effects as you would caro to pass on to your brother osirian.

Indeed, it need not ho a trick, hut any magical nows that might be of interestAs an example of that thought, we take pleasure in lotting you in on a secret of magical importance.

It Y/as announced on tho 16th of this month that our Scribe, BrotherrHenry Seim has taken a step which has resulted in more instances than one of convincing a man that thore is real magic.

Ofcourse, Love itself may bo an illusion, but after all it is a most pleasant one: and all of us hopo Henry finds it enormously so.

The wedding bells have rung out (unfortunately in Williamsport, Pa., where all of us could not be present); but we wish Hon and Marge lots of happiness and some magical surprises l Baltimore has just completed the celebration of its 200th birthday and needless to say, being a Baltimore product, the osirians did their bit to commorate the event.

Did you see our float in the night parade? nothing elaborate or fantastio, but being neat without gaudiness, it attracted lots of attention and many favorable comments 9 in the papers.

In case you may have forgo?

Let no repent tnat wo avo taking up a collection to build a Temp *e of Magic in Baltimore, ano. ar c ask ­ ing donations of a dollar a brick, or as 3rcther Henry Bidgley Bvane says "A Buck A Brick".

All contributors will have their names in­ scribed on a tablet prominently placed in the Temple/ The Temple will be open to all visiting magicians and those otuor* wise interested in magic, and will bo tho repository of a collection of historical magical material at ono timseusod by famous magicians.

This collection has boon in tho making for many yoars and is tho pride and joy of cur good friond Tom Worthington who has vory generously givon it to oho Society. it is constantly boing addod to by his frionds in tho fraternity from all ovor tho world, and is of vast inter ost to tho entire magical clan as it contains rare apparatus, models of illusions, working drawings, magazines long out of circulation, and numorous books of magic long since out of print.

Among the latter material are original manuscripts contributed by world-knnwn Magi.

Beginning in this issue of our paper we are reprinting these manuscripts, in serial form, and trust they will bo of intorost tomyou.

Those manuscripts belong to Mr. Worthington, and remain his property.

"Coping '1or reprinting them, in whole or in part, is forbidden without written consent from Mr. Worthington.

Wo have mentioned at different times in The Sphinx the fact that there are two "junior" magical organizations in Baltimore: both of thorn sponsored by the Society of Osiris.

The original "junior" group was founded several years ago by boys under the age of eighteen belong­ ing to tho local Y.II-C.A. under tho personal direction of Brother Ernest Marx. It is known as "The Pyramid Club of tho Y".

This club has been growing constantly and has been tho source of much pleasure to tho members.

A member of this Society is present at all of thoir mootings to lond advico and council.

When ono of thoir members be­ comes oightoon years of ago ho automatioally 'passes out" of the club and is then eligible to membership in tho •*intermediate" club, which is known as "Tho Disciples of Osiris".

This latter club, therefore is made up of former "pyramid" hoys who are yet toonyoung to bocoiae fullfledged osirians. per three years thoy are Disciples, during which timo thoir interest and knowledge of magic grows, so that by their 2 1 st birthday they are eligible to membership in tho parant body.

This system of forming "junior" clubs among young boys has many advantages. it becomes, in a sense, a school for magic and at the samo time assists to maturity deserving boys and. young mon.

Tho Society is proud of its work of this nature, and is thus spreading the gospol of tho Big Brothor movement in tho magical fraternity with the hope that other clubs throughout the country, and the world, will join with us in the good work.

As a mark of their appreciation of our help, members of both £he Pyramid and the Disciplos havo contributed generously of their time and energy in assisting us in different ways.

They have affiliated with us in the production of several public entertainments, and just recent­ ly quite ably increased tho effectiveness of our float in the fraternal parade during Baltimore*s Bi-Centennial.

Tho Society of Osiris hereby acknowledges its indebtedness to them, and offerssits sincere thanks.

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P u b l i s h e d bp SOCIETY OF OSIRIS MAGICIANS , l n c , Ba I t imo r e , Md » Th os. C. W o r t h in g t o n , 3rd .

Number 9 /

Editors L o u i s E,

S h illin g

L o u i s V f Lane May t 19 3b

BROTHER OSI R I M S ST US commune a " s p e l l ” in the Temple o f I s i s .

Here, i n the ^ shadowy l i g h t , in ce ns e la d e n atmosphere o f l o t u s , and s o f t w i e r d '•( music o f the dead, l e t us m in gl e our s p i r i t s w i t h that s p i r i t o f ^ke Croat One, O s i r i s , which len ds us the m y s t e r i e s o f the A rt T h is i s by way o f a g r e e t i n g c h a i r o f your ]Jer heb who s i t s i n the ensuing y e a r .

And from t h i s S o c i e t y advance to new h e i g h t s i n Mystery,

and s a l u t a t i o n from the l o n e l y f r o n t o f the throne o f O s i r i s f o r p o s i t i o n en deavors t o h e lp the the r.ealm o f magic and O s i r i a n

B r o t h e r s , t h e r e a re many t h i n g s which can cause a club o f any c h a r a c t e r e i t h e r to p r o g r e s s or to r e t a r d p r o g r e s s and even t o d e s t r o y what has a l r e a d y been b u i l t up.

We, I know f u l l w e l l , are i n t e r e s t e d o n l y i n p r o g r e s s .

We sh ould , t h e r e f o r e , c o n s i d e r t h e s e s i x words: ■ FRATERNITY LOYALTY SUPPORT I N IT IA T IV E INVENTION PRACTICE A f r a t e r n a l f e e l i n g toward each member o f the S o c i e t y » L o y a l t y to the S o c i e t y and to each o t h e r , Support from each member f o r a l l a c t i v i t i e s o f the S o c i e t y * Each one showing I n i t i a t i v e i n the a c t i v i t i e s o f the S o c i e t y * Bo not be a TTbench warmer” .

Bo not r e l y on somebody e l s e Ts e f f o r t s

- Invent.

And l a s t but not l e a s t , remember the "ope n sesame” o f a good Magician - p r a c t i c e .

L e t us not use a m a g n i f y i n g g l a s s to attempt t o f i n d the f a u l t s o f the S o c i e t y ; but r a t h e r use a l o o k i n g g l a s s .

ERNEST B. MARE Her heb

31

TOM OOMS TO THE SHSToHIT SHO ?

•T ' * ° i p a c k e d j i p h i s ?rbag 0 “ t r i c k s # ('only i t w~s a t ^m61 and, g a t h e r i n g up h i s f a m i l y jou rneye d to Cambridge H ' k O , - - , a ° l o a l week-ena (maybe a second honeymoon).

He p r e s e n t ° 4 a fU A l e v e n i n S , 3 a c t , show i n the l a r g e s t h a l l i n t h f t o T O ^ d a c t u a l l y packed them i n I t must have been a f no en te rta in m en t r o r the l o c a l panor gave him more than a hal~! -P column w r i t e - u p on i t . s a y i•n g the ‘ h a l l was f u l l to o verflo w in g and th a t e v er y on e P t ° th0 f u l l e s t .

He concluded with the w o r l d famous Brook s Trunk, which was h i g h l y a c c la im e d ¿T f o r

Mr. Howard Thurston c lo s e d » f t e r a v o r y s u c c e s s f u l season.

i i s show i n P i t t s b u r g on May 17,

(-3 H

* h“ h L T Sar„ dG? ? I} s t r ?.t G d . T,Ad-her-- 0 ’' tho adhom i v e card a t a ocont m o o t in g .

He d i d w e l l w i t h a t r i e ! that i s n ' t sc good. he d e a l e r asks a d o l l a r f o r i t which sec Tili to be 50 too h i g h .

S e v e r a l weeks w it h r-n r-nhn • ’ ? ^° S o c i e t y p r e s e n t e d Miss B e t t y ja n e F o l n « f i Pi n . i n r e c ° g n i t i o n o f her a b i l i t y as a m 4o-i o i e n t n ° f l t s t c - M i fo r "th e youngest magician i"n the 051- • 1 » rep ly wc re c e iv e d the f o l i o w i ! * i - t H r from her pad TTMy dear F r i e n d Glon H l l y u , M io h .,5/17/30 it ,

rrords f o i l

to express- the r e a l f o o l i n g o f

you f i r s t b - o " u E i01 EaCh "nd /voryone of you. T admire « T V i n k +TE yo? rc PJ°sent a body of men who arc not e f f o r t - o f t h n t y °v no* . 866» appreciate and reta rd the n itio n T £ t b whose achievements arc worthy o f rcco go f vour 3 o o i b v r£\ f f \ l n S t0 ®s t y I" t y i y x haTe mado i.S w n ! f S - ° f peoplG th a t c l u s i v e l y f o r m a g ic ia n s — f o r t h i s b° ca lled to°th T

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j3 n e th0 h e a u t d f u l emblem P o s s i b l e f o r B e t t y Jane » e r e e x i s t s a S o c i e t y ex ­ l i t t l e g i r l w i l l Wo.-,y f » .

Perfornuaioos and a t t e n t i o n ' w i l l "

f __ Bo t t y Jans, h e r s e l f thanks you and w h i l o she i s to o young to f u l l y r e a l i z e the f u l l value o f the honor who n-..ve h-vc h?°n s o 1 c’ o1n s i d e rSuf t l a ew ewl fial r1 e oome os e wno been so a t e° othe f her w i l l when ho-r th fm™ hor p e r s o n a l l y .

Therefore, u n til su ck u m e I t h a j f you the o T O o r t S l t v 0? 7 ?nA t r u ? f you w i l 1 not f a i l to g i v e me c o l l e c t i v - T v -ih r,° //:Aotlllnj f ° r you i n d i v i d u a l l y or l l c c t i v e l y whenever the o p p o r t u n i t y p r e s e n t s i t s i l f .

M a g ic a lly yours, ttk o i a r tt

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ol

Editors Thos. 0. W orthington, 3 rd .______ Louis 5 . s h i l l i n g

Louis Y » Xan^

When The S o c ie t y o f O s ir is was founded e ig h t years a g o, i t s fou ndation was fir m ly la id on the p r in c ip le that a m agical s o c ie t y was fo r m agician s, and that an a p p lica n t must bnow and understand, w ith the a b i l i t y to perform them, the b a s ic p o in ts o f m agical work.

He need n o t, however, be a p u b lic (o r p r iv a te ) p erform er, as such a d e sig n a tio n i s g e n e r a lly a ccep ted : but he must have a s in c e r e in t e r e s t in m agic.

To emphasize that f a c t and to fu rth e r our slogan "E x c lu s iv e ly f o r M agicians" we arranged a s e r ie s o f exam ination q u estio n s th at ev ery a p p lic a n t was requ ired to answer to the s a t i s f a c t i o n o f the S o c ie ty s i t t i n g as a Committee o f the Whole.

We were s e v e r e ly c r i t i c i z e d fo r such a sta n d , and f o r a w hile we were the bu tt o f s lig h t s and s lu r s from our con tem p ora ries.

We didn ot e x a c t ly hold our p ea ce, but we did go on in our e s ta b lis h e d way: and, a lth o every m agician in the world is n ot a member, we are r e c o g n iz e d , and we have been told some f l a t t e r i n g th in g s .

Quito r e c e n t ly , a w e ll known m agician wrote us "• •• .but an O siria n is in a d e f in i t e c l a s s .

Ho IS a m a g icia n ."

A l l o f the above is merely a preamble to the fo llo w in g para­ graph taken verbatam from a l e t t e r r e c e n t ly re ce iv e d from Mr. w a ite r B. G ibson, hims&lf a very well-known m agician: "Because o f the high standard o f the S o c ie t y o f O s ir is , * a l l G siria n s are e l i g i b l e fo r a c tiv e membership in the i n t e r ­ n a tio n a l Magic C i r c l e . They req u ire no fu rth e r endorsem ent• The fa c t that a man belon gs to the S o c ie t y o f O sir is i s cer~ t i f i c a t i o n that he i s a m agician , and that he has a r e a l in t e r e s t in the advancement o f the a r t . At the June Conven­ tio n o f the In te rn a tio n a l Magic C i r c l e , a recommendation w i l l bo made to the C ouncil o f Seven th at a l l O siria n s who jo in the I.M .C . be recogn ized as Advanced Members o f the Fourth C ir c le ."

Speaking fo r The S o c ie t y o f O s ir is , we wish to acknowledge with s in c e r e a p p r e cia tio n and a g r a t e fu l "thank you" Mr. G ibson1's g r a c e fu l tr ib u te in r e c o g n it io n o f our stand and our e f f o r t s tend­ ing to the u p l i f t o f Magic fo r. M agician s.

L.E'.S.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF GREAT MAGICIANS 2. Jean-Eugene Robert-Ho ud in .

...

The "Father o f Hodern M agic” , more fa m ilia r ly known as Robert Hoad in , was born in B l o i s , France, in 1805, and died in 1871. He was the son o f a watchmaker, and fo llo w in g the trade fo r a w hile he learned the p r in c ip le s o f h is many in gen iou s m agical inven­ t io n s . He a ls o invented many unusual c lo c k s .

The crowning event o f his ca re e r was h is ambassadorship to A l­ g e r ia in 1856 where he subdued the in flu e n ce o f the Marabout m ira cle j mongers over the ign oran t A rabs. The \7and he used on t h is o ca ssio n i s in the V/or thing ton c o l l e c t i o n . He adopted the flame "Houdin” from h is fa t h e r -in -la w .

His memoirs should be read by everyone in te r e s te d in m agic.

THE TITLE 18 11017 "COLONEL” THURSTON our good frie n d Howard Thurston has been 17ord reaches us r. honored by the governor o. f tKentucky bjr an appointment to his s t a f f .

The S o c ie t y extends i t s co n g ra tu a ltio n s to the new C olon el (and a "Kentucky C o lo n e l” at that I),- and assures the governor that C olon el Howard Thurston w i l l bear h is t i t l e w ith honor and d ig n ity b e f i t t i n g the t r a d it io n s o f the good State o f Kentucky.

COMMON!7HALCH OP KTNTUCKV' Pie m I). Sa mps on , Gove rn o r C ol, Howard Thurston, The M agician, 254 17est 44th S t r e e t, New York C ity .

Lear C olon el Thurston: I am d e lig h te d to have your l e t t e r o f the 25th o f Hare#, from b e t r o i t , acknowledging r e c e ip t o f your commission as Colonel on the s t a f f o f the Governor o f Kentucky.

17hen you are next in Kentucky, I hope, dear C o lo n e l, you w i l l giv e me the p leasu re o f a c a l l .

"7ith s in c e r e good w ish es, I am, S in c e r e ly , F ra n k fo rt, Kentucky, A p r il 2nd, 1931.

(sig n ed )

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piem I). Sampson

Nor ember, 1933

dumber 50

(S5U£D tëY TMC 6Ci(î T V & F Û S i P xl 5 m / tô lC IA n lS , frtC .,S A LT û ,/V II3 .

Thos.C. Worthington., 3d Subscription Hates

EDITORS Louis E. Shilling Domestic

Herbert A. Davis, ras born in H buryport, Mass, Aug* 16, 1889 and became interested in magic at the age of 12 after witnessing a mag­ ical performance by a local man in a Baptist Sunday School. He gave his first public per­ formance in the- same Sunday School in Sept.

1885, During the Fall and W inter months of 1888-89-90 and 91 he played Sunday School and Svhoo1-houses through Hew Bruns­ wick. Nova. Scotia and Prince Edward Í Island; played part of a Season in 1892 with a minstrel j show, doing a spec-, ialty magic act.

For several months \ in 1893 Hr. Davis toured the Now England States with a medicine! show. He m s married in Aug. 1894 and for tWo\ years did no magic. In 1897 he did local club and church shews, around Somerville, Mass. In Fall of 1898 he added Black Art, Spirit Cabinet and .tsoapes to his act and took on a magician named Pyfrom and two comedians and played eastern Hass New Hampshire and Maine; from then

Vd3

$1,35

_

Louis V, Lane

Foreign

$2,00

until the Fall of 1912 did local workand then stopped until 1916: after the death of his wife in Sept. 1917 he stopped magic for r*hat he thought was all time, but while in Balto., MÜ* In 1922 joined the I.B.M«, and started to get together another outfit. In Mar. 1923 he became a Char­ ter Member of the Society of Osiris, and kept adding to his outfit until he had the beet he had ever had. He moved to Wash., D.O. in 1925 gave shows until Cot. 1926 then vmoved to Huntington, W. Ya. and for next few months gave shews in W. Ya., and ts of Ey. and ' In 1928 he *peived a School of Magic Huntington, W. Ya. and closed it permently in 3C and moved to Boston, ss. June 29, 1930 and did no magic until his return to Balto. again in Oct. 1931, and is now getting another outfit together for club, lodge and church work, Mr. Davis is now a LIFE MEMBER of the Society of Osiris.

THE MYSTERY OF FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH

Superstition is one of the most oommcn traits of human nature« There are few of us indeed, who do not at some time in our own lives form beliefs which run counter to the laws of science, as we conceive such laws# Strange to say as we delve deeper into the secrets of nature the more it appeara that anythin'; is possible# Of many supersti^ iions perhaps one of the most.universal is that rriday the thirteenth is "unluckv", j! |I . H ot/ Magicians, and I mean the gentlemen who pull rabbits from hats, are supposed to create an atmosphere oyf mystery, not only of the stage, but even about their everyday lives# When one of these gentlemen meets you he is supposed to have some "wonder" on tap: even if it is the Dime and penny, jguoh appears to have been the case recently in Baltimore on rriday, October thirteenth, for that evening one of, .the strangest illusions was presented that heart could desire# On ;the morning of the fourteenth the local public was stunned to read that all the Spirits of puck, both fair and foul had been floated by "The Magicians of Baltimoren(?) at an antisuperstition meeting at the Bew Howard Hotel.

Terrible rites had been held, mirrors had been smashed, members walked under ladders, salt had been spilled, and in fact every tradition which has been held seared for generations had been broken; in fact the^e had been the Devil to pay. * ■^a* .

The Osirians happen to be a Magicians Club of B. 1 timere, ; and as the acoounts indicate, they too had braved the horrible penalties of "Old Man Luck", so they were naturally interested.

They rushed to the hotel gfor information, expecting to find crowds of curosity seekers and reporters: but alas, what a shocki Bo crowdsi Bo Heborbersi And BC Informstion#i The hotel politely stated that they hadn’t seen any ladders, had not swept up any salt., and if there were a lot of broken mirrors they hadn’t observed them# last, but not least, they did not know that they had entertained any magicians1 . Wo were stunned, hox*ifiea and broken in spirit, for here was an illusion we could not fathom.

It was finally discovered that "The Mag icians of we re a band of young; men who have applied for a c.ha r '¿,-0 3 . A . M,, and as this ohe; x ter had not as ye t arrive.5 , ’.nically non- existent • 0hiis acco u n t s fOr p a r ­ b o x t he 'but we are s till wonderir¡ g whexe the "'en t lemen hid the the hotel on the niglit. of Brida y the Thirteen th so c n a managers and staff co u I d n ot find cnem#

tecli-

We are betting that "Old Man Hoodoo" just covered them with his old black cloak of superstition and made them invisible just to get even.

ouno

Number 57

1934

(SSLHsD ßY THC ¿ y c itz T V 651(^15

mA6ICIAflL5, trfC.,Bt\LT&'MO. EDITORS Thos. C . Worthington, 3d______Louis E. Shilling SUBSCRIPTION RATES

DOMESTIC

$1.65

FOREIGN

Ernest B. Mary $3»00

~

OSIRIS SILHOUETTE #6 The subject of this sketch, one of the younger members of the Society of Osiris, is Carroll W . Bish who was born in Baltimore, Md. in 1909 and became interested in inagio when only seven years of age, through a Gilbert Magic Mysto Set whioh was given him for a Christmas Present, He later purchased Ho t f:nann1s Modern Magic, which star ea him In the right direction.

He became so enthused with his newly acquired art that he built a small stage in the attic of his home, where he practiced his •cricks ar.d enter­ tained company by the hour, Magic became his God and caused many a squabble at home because of his neglect of his schoo_ duties.

A H through early grammar achool he was recognized as ::Carroll the Boy Magician11.

In 1924 the local Y.M.C.A. through the assistance of Mr. Earnest 3. Marx a Past Her heb of the Society of Osiris, formed the Pyramid Club, of which Mr. Dish became a Chargor Member. It was directly after this that he gave his first public per­ formance before an audience of about fifteen hundred at a local high school.

When 18 years of age lie auto­ matically enter­ ed a newly form­ ed magic club, THE DICIPLES OF OSIRIS, which was started by the Society of Osiris for those interest­ ed in magic between the ages of eighteen and twentyone years.

After reaching 21 years he was eligible for membership in the The Society of Osiris, and has been an active member ever since.

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LOUIS V. LANE It is with deep regret that the Society reports that our past Her heb Louis V. Lane has been very ill, in the Union Memorial Hospital.

At the present writing, however, he has returned home very much improved, altho still confined to his béd.

Mr. Lañe will he remembered by many of the Sphinx readers as the Osirian who wrote the Thirteen answers to Dr, Wilson several years ago.

Ur. Wilson had accepted the Society's invitation to a dinner in his honor, and he came to Baltimore as our guest in Baltimore, and returned to Hew York after nearly eighteen hours in the company of members of the Society: but not once did he ask any questions pertaining to the Society, its aims or ambitions# He returned to Kansas City and wrote thirteen reasons why the society of Osiris was wrong: and Mr. Lane wrote his now famous Thirteen Seasons why we were right* Dr. Wilson published these Thirteen Reasons as prominently as he had published his own "Points" which proved he was a good sport.

We over since had a secret feeling that he changed his opinion of us, due to Lou Lane's reply We miss Lou from the meetings, and wish him a SPEEDY RECOVERY* REYNOLDS ILLUSTRATED HEWS OH' EH GLAND A very interesting article appeared‘in the above paper on April 15th, headed "The Age of Illusion", an account of the library and magical curios of Mr. A. Margery of Bromley, Xeny, England.

It seems strange that with all the historical magical appratus in private hands, there never has been erected a museum to house and display.it: so the Society of Osiris is soliciting funds at "a dollar a brick" to erect such a building, which is to be a public museum.

If you are interested in preserving for future generations the curios of the profession you love, send in your "buck”: the money is being kept in a special fund for that purpose ONLY and is properly from any other use. Address the Society, 2113 Poplar Grove St. hept The Tom Worthington collection of historical apparatus, books, papers, poster, etc., has just been enriched by the Wand , sent by Okito (Thoo. Bamberg) used by him in his Cups and Balls effect.

Also by the Full Dress Vest worn by Hermann the Grest, and auto­ graphed by him* This vest was sent by Doan.Powell.

THE- MDDERH MAGICIAN MAGAZINE Wo wish to congratulate the editors of this magazine, it is getting better with each issue, slcho we wish it would appear'with more regularity.

THIS IS AN IHLEP3HLANT MAGAZINE, which is the sort of periodical the INDEH2HDAH1 MAGICAL CLUBS should support* THE MODERN MAGICIAN MAGAZINE and the TABLETS OF OSIRIS axe both I H D E ? ^ f D A H -242-